Toilet seat



May 13, 1941. P. J. sPERzl-:L Erm.

TOILET SEAT Original Filed Nov. 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig-1.

mfg-5 A Invenlor-s: Peter CI'. SperzeL. John Cor-ser. B31/ t or-neg.

May 13, '1941.l P. J. sPERzEL ETAL TOILET SEAT Original Filed Nov. l5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors t torrzeg.

'Patented May is, i941 n sire einen TOILET SEAT Peter J. Sperzel, Minneapolis, Minn.,Y and John Corser, Peoria, Ill., assignors to Sperzel Modern Seat `Company, a corporation of Minnesota Application November 15, 1937, Serial No. 174,576 Renewed September 2l, 1939 15 Claims.

Another object of our invention is to provide a toilet seat that shall be so designed and con structed as to permit it to be easily maintained in a highly sanitary or hospital-clean condition.

Another object of our invention is to provide a toilet seat in which all surfaces shall be smooth and polished and free from abrupt changes in contour and in which the entire surface area shall besmall to reduce to as great a degree as possible the tendency of extraneousniatter to lodge thereon.

A particular object of our invention is to provide an improved toilet seat hinge structure for mounting a toilet seat on aV toilet bowl.

Other objects of our invention will either be apparent from a description of several forms of toilet seats embodying our invention or will be pointed out hereinafter in the course of such description and set forth in theappended claims.

Y In the drawings- Figure l is a top plan view of our improved toilet seat shown as ymounted on a toilet bowl, a part of one of the seat pads being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation thereof, only the top portion of the bowl being'shown,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a hin e structure taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken on the line li-l of Fig. 3,

' Fig. 5 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale, of a seat pad and a support therebelow, taken en the line 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a partial top-,plan View of a modified form of toilet seat shown as mounted on a toilet bowl,

H Fig. 7 is a Vertical sectional View through `a hinge structure takenl on the line l`-'i of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional View therethrough taken on the line 3 8 of Fig. '7,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary View in end elevation of another type of hinge,

Fig. l0 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line lll-lil of Fig. 9,

Fig. l1 is a vertical sectional view, on a slightly enlarged scale, taken on the line l l-l l of Fig. 6,

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary top plan View of a still further modification of a seat pad, and,

. Fig@ 13 is a View thereof vpartly in side eleration and `partly in section.

` i Referring first to the toilet seat shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, we have-illustratedanordinary toilet` bowl 2l on which our improved seat is to be mounted; The seat includes a yoke 23 which is of substantially U-s-hape and of such-dimen sions that thevarious lparts operatively assooiatedtherewith will be positioned in the desired positions relatively tothetop edge of a toilet bowl. We prefer to make the yoke of a metal, of circularshape in cross section, in order to obtain theleast surface area for a given strength as well as tov obtain the most favorable ycontour thereof to shed extraneous-matter.

Two separate anddistinct s eat pads 2l, each of relatively small area, are provided,` each pad being of substantially kidney-shape in top surface contour, having downwardly vrounded edges, substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and -5 of the drawings. Each seat pad may comprise'an external shell 29 of molded composition ymaterial having light-weight inserts 3l, 33, 35 and 3l therein, preferably of wood or some other light Weight material, in order to combine light weight i with relatively great strength. The surface of eachpad is smooth and highlyr polished and the edges are rounded as shown particularly in Fig. 2.

A rod-like support 39; Yof metal, has its upper end in interfittingA engagement with thev upper layer of molded material.` The'upper end of the rod is of reduced diameter and is preferably knurled as shown at 4l in Fig. 5 of the drawings,

`while a slightly reduced intermediate-portion 33 is also'knurled so that both the top and the bottom layer of molded composition material will have good interfitting engagement with the rod-like support. We wish to point out that the annular` joint Ll between the lower part of the rod, of full diameter, and a part of the bottom layer of molded material is smooth, tight-and even to prevent entrance of extraneous-matter into the joint.

An end portion of the yoke 23 extends into an opening lll in rod 39, but as shown in Fig; 5 it does not extend therethrough. It is desirable .that the t of an end portion of the yoke into the rod be relatively` closein order to prevent entrance of foreign matter between the yoke end and the rod. Means forsecuring-the rod. on the end of the yoke may `comprise 'a small headless set screw 49 which, as shown in Fig. 5, extends upwardly against an end portion of yoke' 23 in an opening in rod 39 which opening is not coaxial with rod 39.

' to 5 inclusive.

rod 39 is not located centrally longitudinally of a pad but slightly to the rear of the center of the pad as will be seen from Figs. 1, 2` and 5 of the drawings. Each seat pad is therefore mounted on an end portion of the yoke in adjustable relationship in one plane.

A resilient bumper has annular intertting snap engagement with the bottom end of a rod 39 and it will be noted that the joint between bumper 5I, which may be made of a suitable grade of rubber, and the bottom end of rod.,39 is tight, smooth and even.

'Ihe metal yoke has a substantially straight intermediate portion 53 which is provided with two spaced annular grooves 55, shown more particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings. A pair of hinge structures cooperate with the intermediate portion 53 of the yoke at the annular grooves to provide a pivotal mounting of the seat on a toilet bowl. Each structure includes a hookbolt 51 which is preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, that is the hook portion thereof extends at a small angle relatively to the axis of the main portion thereof. Each hookbolt directly engages the yoke in the respective. grooves and is made long enough so that it may extend downwardly through the rear ange portion 59 of a toilet bowl and therebelow, a resilient w-asher 6I, a thin metal washer B3 and a nut 65 being mounted thereon in order to se .'30

cure the hinge structures on a toilet bowl. may use a covered coil spring in place of the resilient washer 6I. It is evident that the yoke is securely held against movement laterally of the toilet bowl by the intert of the hook bolts 35 and the grooves 55.

A hood-like cover 61 which may be of rubber or of molded material having openings in each side wall, through which the intermediate part 53 of the yoke may extend, as shown in Fig. 4.,.40

A thin washer or plate 69 may have interiitting engagement with both the hookbolt 51 and the bottom edge of cover 61 in order to maintain the cover and the hookbolt in substantially fixed positions relatively to each other, after the de. 45

vice has been mounted on a toiletV bowl. A lower cover 1| may also be provided to enclose the lower end portion of each hookbolt, and as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, this cover may be of such `construction and shape that it will have 50 screw-threaded engagement with the extreme lower end of hookbolt 51, whereby the upper edge of the cover can be forced into tight surface engagement with the under surface of the flange there illustrated a modied form of toilet seat using substantially the same general form of metal yoke 23, of substantially U-shape, as was used in the form of toilet seat shown in Figs. l Seat pads 13 are secured to the respective end portions of yoke 23 and include a top plate 15 which maybe made of molded composition material having a smooth and highly polished upper surface, with rounded edges, the. under surface thereof being hollow, as shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings. A bottom plate 11, preferably of rust-resisting metal has interftting engagement, in a countersunk manner, with the 5 Referring now to Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 11, we have peripheral edge of the top portion 15 and the 70 ,Rod-,like supportsv 83, one for eachV seat pad,

are provided with a lateral opening to receive an end portion of yoke 23 and a stud 81 extends into the upper end of rod 83 in screw-threaded engagement therewith, the stud 81 being tightened against the end portion of yoke 23 extending into support 83. A nut 89 is mounted on the upper end of stud 81 and fits against the upper surface of the downwardly dished plate 11 whereby to tightly clamp the plate 11 between the upper end of rod-like support 83 and the nut 89. It will be noted that a single means, namely the stud 81, is effective not only to hold the rodlike support 83 on an end portion of yoke 23 in adjustable relationship in one plane, but that the same stud cooperating with the nut 89 effects mounting of the bottom plate 11 and of the top part 15 on an end portion of the yoke 23 in adjustable relationship in another plane. In order to obtain this result the upper end of rod-like support 83 is made of conical shape sub-V stantially as` shown in Fig. 11, while the bottom surface of nut 89 is made of conical shape, the nut being otherwise suitably shaped to permit of tightening it on stud 81.

As it may be desirable in many cases, to ensure that a toilet seat of this kind be normally raised well above the top edge of a toilet bowl, that is when not in use, we may provide a counterweight 9| having an arm 93 integral therewith, the outer end of arm 93 being so shaped as to t over a part of yoke 23, a small plate, complementary to the outer end of arm 93 being provided together with a bolt 95 to clamp the two parts tightly on the yoke. Any other suitable or desired method of securing a weight to the yoke in such position as to cause the seat pads to be normally moved well above the upper edge of a toilet bowl may be employed by us.

A pair of covered hinge structures cooperate directly with the intermediate portion of yoke 23 to pivotably mount the seat on a toilet bowl. Each hinge structure includes a hookbolt 51 of the kind hereinbefore described, the hooked portion directly engaging with the intermediate portion of the yoke in a groove 55.

An enclosing cover 91 surrounds the upper portion of the hookbolt and a small portion of the intermediate part of yoke 23, a shoulder 98 in the cover being engaged by the end portion of the hook bolt. The yoke extends through cover 91 in substantially the same manner as was hereinbefore explained for cover 61. An insert 99, also of molded material, may have interfltting engagement with cover 91, which is made hollow for this purpose, it being desirable to ensure that there be no pockets either on the outside or on the inside of any part of the seat, where extraneous iluid or solid matter 'might lodge. A bottom cover 1| `may also be provided as was done in the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. A hinge structure of this kind will not bind the yoke when the adjustment of nut 65 on the lower end of hook bolt 51 is onlymoderately tight. In such case the yo'ke may swing relatively freely and a'small counter-weight 9! can be employed to raise the seat pads away from the toilet bowl. On the other hand, it is obvious that a tighter adjustment of nut 65 will cause the hook bolt to engage the yoke with considerable pressure, and thus the ease of swinging movement maybe limited where desired.

In Figs. 9 and 10we have illustrated a modified and'simplifed form of hinge including a hookbolt HH which, while it is in general of the same shape as hookbolt v51 is provided with an 'face between the hookbolt |0|andyoke 23.

ticularly in Fig. 10 of the drawings so that the groove 55 in yoke 23 may have adequate protection-aswell as toprovide a greater lbearing surblock |05 of suitable resilient material, such as rubber,l may be used below the yoke 23 and rest Aupon the top surface of a rear flange 59 of a toilet bowl to Aobtain a Vsubstantially enclosed hinge structure.

Referringnow to Figs. 12 and 13 we have there illustrated la still further modification of a seat vpad in which a yoke |01, the main portions of which are substantially the same as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, has its end portions |09 return bent asjshown in Fig.A 12 of the drawings,

vthese return bent end portions being positioned in a plane parallel to but spaced from the :plane of the other parts of the yoke, as is shown particularly in Fig. 13 of the drawings.

A rod-like support preferably of metal, eX- tends bel-ow the return bent end portion 09 and, las shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings, the upper end of rod I may be welded to both portions of the return bent end, as shown Iat H3 in Fig. 12.

A layer ||5 of molded composition material is then placed in position around the end portions land the rod-like support and here again it may be noted vthat the outer surface of member ||5 is smoothghighly polished, with an entirely unbroken surface and with rounded edges. A resilient bumper may be provided, having interiitting engagement with that pant of outer layer ||5 surrounding rod-like member and here again the joint between the bumper and the molded composition material is smooth, tight and even.

It is obvious that the seat pad raising means comprising particularly weight 93 can lbe applied equally well to the toilet seat shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, as well as to the form shown in Figs.

v12 and 13. The entirely covered hinge structures shown in Figs. 3, 4 .and Figs. 8, 9 respectively lare of course also interchangeable.

and highly polished exterior surfaces which are .substantially unbroken. The interior of each of the seat pads described above is hollow or of skeleton type, insofar :as the molded composition material is concerned. We have found that a non-metallic material lends itself to the accomplishment of the objects stated hereinbefore,

namely to provide -a light weight toilet seat having relatively great streng-th, in which all of the parts have thev lsimplest shape and construction, in which all joints are tight, smooth and even, and in which all ,materialsI are such as to withstand lthe various extraneous fluid and solid materials to which -they will be subjected in use with the least possible damage. A device of the kin-d shown inthe drawings, in any of the various forms there shown can be easily maintained in a highly sanitary and hospital-clean condition.

Itv may also be pointed lout that the top surface area Iof the lseat pads is very small, the length being about 61/2 andthe width about 31/4", whereby the 'contaminatable surface area is greatlyV reduced. aTherod-like;supportslhavea diameter on the lorder of one inch and areof such lengtlfr'as to -raise the pads about-two inches above the upper -edge of a toilet bowl. Theseldimensions-.are not to be consideradas limiting linY any sense, l but merely f as illustrative lofsthe dimen- The `subject-matter claimed in the `present case primari-ly invol-vesthehingestructure. The-conent application.

vWe claim as our invention:

1. A toilet seat for resting on a toilet bowl and including .a yoke ofsubstantially U-shape, .a pair of separate seat pads, "of generally kidney shape, of molded compositi-on material having a smooth and substantially unbroken 4outer surface secured to the ends of 'the yoke, hook bolts directly engaging the intermediate part of the yoke for pivotally securing the seat on a toilet bowl and nonmetalliccovers for theV hinge structure and adjacent parts of the yoke hold-able against the top and bottom surfaces of a toilet bowl by parts of the hinge structure and cooperating with'the bowl to completely enclose the entire hinge structure in .a substantially fluid-tight manner, all surfaces and surface joints being of such material and construction as to easily effect a hospital- `clean condition of the toilet seat.

2. A toilet seat for mounting `on a toilet bowl and comprising two separate seat pads, -of substantially kidney-shape in contour .and ofv relatively sm-all surface area, a yoke o-f substantially U-shape and of circular cross section vhaving end portions connecting with the seat pads and positioning the seat pads above the rim slightly forward of the center of the bowl, the intermediate portion of the yoke having a pair of spaced annular grooves therein, a pair of hook-bolts fit-ting into the respective grooves to constitute hinges for the seat and to prevent lateral shifting of the yoke relatively to the hook-bolts :and covers for the upper ends of the respective hookbolts closely Vsurrounding and engaging the upper ends of the hookbolts.

3. A toilet seat for mounting on a toilet bowl and comprising two separate opposed seat pads having non-metallic top surfaces of relatively vsmall area and length compared to the bowl,

supports beneath the pads effective when resting on the upper edge of a toilet bowl yto raise the pads above the upper edge of the toilet bowl, a yoke of substantially U-shape having its end portions connected to said seat pads to position them slightly forward of the center of a bowl, said yokehaving a pair of annular grooves in the intermediate portion thereof, hookbolts having intertting engagement with the yoke in the grooves and arranged to be secured to a toilet bowl and non-metallic covers for the hookbolts cooperating with the toilet bowl to .completely enclose said bolts and the grooved portions of the yoke.

4. A device constituting the main support of a person using a toilet bowl and including a pair of separate kidney-shaped seat pads of molded composition material with rounded external edges', a'support beneath each pad, a U-shaped yoke having its ends connecting'with therespective seat pads, a hinge structure on the intermediate portion of the yoke having the vyoke itself as a part lthereof vfor pivotally mounting the device on a toilet bowl and non-metallic covers over the upper and the lower ends of the hinge structure intertting with the intermediate part of the yoke. and pressable tightly against the top and the bottom surfaces of a toilet bowl by portions of the hinge structure, the surfaces and contours of all parts of the device being such as to prevent extraneous fluid and solid matter engaging said hinge structure.

5. A toilet seat for mounting on a toilet bowl comprising a substantially U-shaped yoke, a relatively at mass of molded composition material secured to each arm portion of the yoke and having a spacer therebelow for engaging the top edge of a toilet bowl, and at least one hinge lcomprising an anchor member adapted to be Vmeans for supporting the intermediate yoke portion in spaced relation to a toilet bowl and encasing the interlitting connection of the yoke and anchoring member.

6. A toilet seat for mounting on a toilet bowl comprising two separate opposing seat pads of relatively small surface area and length compared to the bowl, a metal yoke of substantially U-shape having a straight intermediate portion, and having opposing forwardly extending arms adapted to support the seat pads over the rim of the bowl somewhat forward of the center of the bowl, a pair of hollow supporting members mounted in spaced relation on the straight intermediate portion of the yoke, and a pair of vspaced hinge members adapted to be mounted at the rear of the toilet bowl, said hinge members pivotally engaging the straight portion of the U-shaped yoke intermediate the arms interiorly of Lthe hollow supporting members, interiitting bearing connections between the hinge member and yoke encased by the supporting members locking the hinge members in xed position axially of the yoke so as to prevent lateral shifting of the seat pads and yoke member relative to the rim of the toilet bowl.

7. A hinge device for securing toilet seat means toga toilet bowl comprising a rod'member adapted to be secured to the toilet seat means, a pair of spaced anchoringV bolts adapted to be secured to the toilet bowl, open hook portions at the upperl end of said bolts embracing the upper portion of the rod memberto secure the rod member tothe toilet bowl for pivotal movement, said anchoring bolt hook pgrtions making lockingV bearing engagementwith an intermediate portion of Vthe rod member so asrto secure the 'bolts in xed spaced relation and prevent, in-

dependently of any connection of the rod member with a toilet seat means, axial sliding movement Of the rod member relative to the bolts, and combined means for supporting the rod member in spaced relation to the toilet bowl and encasing the rod-engaging upper portions of the anchoring bolts comprising cap members each having an upwardly extending'recess bolts housing the hook portion of one of the bolts yand the portion of the rod member inY locking bearing engagement therewith, said'cap members hav-y .ing an intersecting lateral Ibore intermediate the upper and lower ends of the recess receiving and pivotally supporting the intermediate portion of 75 the rod member in bowl. Y

8. A hinge device for toilet seats comprising a hinge rod adapted to be secured to a toilet seat member; ananchoring bolt adapted to be secured to a toilet bowl having an open securing hook at its upper end extending over the rod, an annular grooved bearing in the rod receiving said bolt hook, and a hollow supporting cap member pivotally mounted on the hinge rod encasing the bolt hook and holding the same on the hinge rod independently of connectionfof the anchoring bolt with a toilet bowl.

9. A hinge device for toilet seats comprising a hinge rod adapted to be secured to a toilet seat member, an anchoring bolt. adapted to be secured to a toilet bowl having an open securing hook at its upper end extending over the rod, an annular grooved bearing in the rod receiving said bolt hook, a hollow.. supporting cap member pivotally mounted on the hinge rod independently of the bolt and encasing the upper end of the bolt hook, and means for ,holding the cap member against lateral movement relative to the bolt.

10. A hinge device for toilet seats comprising a hinge rod adapted to be secured to a toilet seat member, an anchoring bolt adapted to be secured to a toilet bowl having. an open securing hook at its upper end extending over the rod, an annular grooved bearing in the rod receiving said bolt hook, a hollow SuppOIting cap member pivotally mounted on the hinge rod independently of the bolt Yand encasing the bolt hook, and means for centering the bolt in the cap member.

11. A hinge device for toilet seats comprising a hinge rod adapted to be secured to a toilet seat member, an anchoring bolt adapted to be secured to a toilet bowl having an open securing hookrat its upper end extending over the rod, an annular grooved bearing in the rod receiving said bolt hook, a hollow supporting cap member pivotally mounted on the hinge rod independently of the bolt and encasingV the bolt hook, and a washer plate having intertting engagement with both the bolt and cap vmember for maintaining the bolt and cap membervin' substantially fixed positions relative to each other. A

12. A hinge device for toilet seats comprising a hinge rod adapted to Vbe secured to ya toilet seat member, a hollow supporting cap member pivotal on the rod, an anchoring boltv adapted to be secured to a toilet bowl extending upwardly through the hollow interior of the cap member in spaced relation to the wall thereof and having an open hook portion at its upper end engageable with the upper portion of the rod and operative through such connection with the rod to secureboth the rod and cap to a toilet bowl, and means independent of connection of the anchoring bolt with a toilet bowl forsecuring the bolt against lateral movement relative to both the cap member and hinger'od, Y

13; A hinge device for toilet seats comprising a hinge rod adapted to be secured to a toilet seat member, a hollow supporting cap member pivotal .on the rod, an. anchoring bolt adapted to be secured tov a toilet bowl .extending upwardly through the hollow interiorV ofthe cap member in spaced relation'to'the walllthereof Vand having an open rhook portion at its upper end engageable with the Vupper portion of the rod and operative through' such .'connectionwith the rod to secure bothithe rodiand cap to a toilet bowl, and means engageable with the .bolt for securing spaced relation to the toilet the cap member and hinge rod against lateral movement relative to each other.

14. A hinge device for toilet seats comprising a hinge rod adapted to be secured to a toilet seat member, a hollow supporting cap member pivotal on the rod, an anchoring bolt adapted to be secured to a toilet bowl extending upwardly through the hollow interior of the cap member in spaced relation to the wall thereof and having an open hook portion at its upper end engageable with the upper portion of the rod and oper'- ative through such connection with the rod to secure both the rod and cap to a toilet bowl, and means for securing the hinge rod, cap member and anchoring bolt against lateral movement relative each to the other.

15. A device constituting the main support of a person using a toilet bowl and comprising a pair of separate seat pads of kidney-shape in outline, of molded composition material having a smooth and unbroken outer surface, a metal yoke of substantially U-shape, the ends of which support the seat pads, a hinge structure for pivotally mounting the device on a toilet bowl including a hook bolt directly engaging the intermediate portion of the yoke in interlocking bearing relation and adapted to prevent axial movement of the yoke relative to the hook bolt, and a cover for the hinge structure molded on the hook bolt and interlitting with the yoke, and being pressable by the hook bolt against the top surface of the toilet bowl when the device is mounted thereon, the surfaces and contours of the entire device being such as to minimize lodgement thereon of extraneous fluid and solid material.

PETER J. SPERZEL.

JOHN CORSER. 

